Paul Haggis
Paul Haggis | |
---|---|
![]() Haggis in November 2013. | |
Born |
London, Ontario, Canada | March 10, 1953
Residence | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Director, screenwriter, producer |
Years active | 1975–present |
Spouse(s) |
Diane Christine Gettas (m. 1977; div. 1994) Deborah Rennard (m. 1997) |
Children | 4 |
Paul Edward Haggis (born March 10, 1953) is a Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known as screenwriter and producer for consecutive Best Picture Oscar winners, 2004's Million Dollar Baby and 2005's Crash, the latter of which he also directed.
Early life
Haggis was born in London, Ontario,[1] the son of Mary Yvonne (née Metcalf) and Edward H. Haggis.[2] He was raised as a Catholic,[3] but considered himself an atheist until joining the Church of Scientology, which he later denounced as a cult.[4] During Dan Rather's AXS TV interview, Haggis stated that he is an atheist.[5] The Gallery Theatre in London was owned by his parents, and Haggis gained experience in the field through work at the theatre.[6]
Haggis attended St. Thomas More Elementary School,[7] and after being inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, proceeded to study art at H. B. Beal Secondary School.[1] After viewing Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film Blowup, he traveled to England with the intent of becoming a fashion photographer.[1] Haggis later went back to Canada to pursue studies in cinematography at Fanshawe College.[1] In 1975, Haggis moved to Los Angeles, California, to begin a career in writing in the entertainment industry.[1][6]
Career
Haggis began to work as a writer for television programs, including The Love Boat, One Day at a Time, Diff'rent Strokes, and The Facts of Life.[6] With The Facts of Life, Haggis also gained his first credit as producer.[6] During the 1980s and 1990s, Haggis wrote for television series including The Tracey Ullman Show, Due South, L.A. Law, and EZ Streets.[6] He helped to create the television series Walker, Texas Ranger; Family Law; and Due South.[6] Haggis served as executive producer of the series Michael Hayes and Family Law.[6]
![](../I/m/PaulHaggis07TIFF.jpg)
He gained recognition in the film industry for his work on the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, which Allmovie described as a "serious milestone" for the writer/producer, and as "his first high-profile foray into feature film".[6] Haggis had read two stories written by Jerry Boyd, a boxing trainer who wrote under the name of F.X. Toole.[6]
Haggis later acquired the rights to the stories, and developed them into the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby. Clint Eastwood portrayed the lead character in the film.[6] Eastwood also directed the film, and used the screenplay written by Haggis.[6] Million Dollar Baby received four Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture.[6]
After Million Dollar Baby, Haggis worked on the 2004 film Crash.[6] Haggis came up with the story for the film on his own, and then wrote and directed the film, which allowed him greater control over his work.[6] Crash was his first experience as director of a major feature film.[6] Critical reception of Crash was positive, and Roger Ebert called it the best film of 2005.[6]
Crash received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, in addition to four other Academy Award nominations.[6] Haggis received two Academy Awards for the film: Best Picture (as its producer), and Best Writing for his work on the screenplay.[6] With Million Dollar Baby and then Crash, Haggis became the first individual to have written Best Picture Oscar-winners in two consecutive years.[8]
Haggis said that he wrote Crash to "bust liberals", arguing that his fellow liberals were not honest with themselves about the nature of race and racism, believing that most racial problems had already been resolved in our society.[9]
Personal life
Haggis lives in Santa Monica, California.[10] He has three daughters from his first marriage to Diana Gettas and one son from his second marriage to Deborah Rennard.[4]
Haggis founded the non-profit organization Artists for Peace and Justice to assist impoverished youth in Haiti.[11][12] In an interview with Dan Rather Haggis mentions that he is an atheist.[13]
Public break from the Church of Scientology
After maintaining active membership in the Church of Scientology for 35 years, Haggis left the organization in October 2009.[14][15][16][17] He was motivated to leave Scientology in reaction to statements made by the San Diego branch of the Church of Scientology in support of Proposition 8, the ballot initiative which banned same-sex marriage in California.[16]
Haggis wrote to Thomas Davis, the Church's spokesman, and requested that he denounce these statements; when Davis remained silent, Haggis responded that "Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent."[16][17][18] Haggis went on to list other grievances against Scientology, including its policy of disconnection, and the smearing of its ex-members through the leaking of their personal details.[16][17]
The Observer commented on defections of Haggis and actor Jason Beghe from Scientology, "The decision of Beghe and Haggis to quit Scientology appears to have caused the movement its greatest recent PR difficulties, not least because of its dependence on Hollywood figures as both a source of revenue for its most expensive courses and an advertisement for the religion."[19]
In an interview with Movieline, Haggis was asked about similarities between his film The Next Three Days and his departure from the Scientology organization; Haggis responded, "I think one's life always parallels art and art parallels life."[20] In February 2011, The New Yorker published a 25,000-word story, "The Apostate", by Lawrence Wright, detailing Haggis's allegations about the Church of Scientology. The article ended by quoting Haggis: "I was in a cult for thirty-four years. Everyone else could see it. I don't know why I couldn't."[4] Haggis was interviewed as part of a group of ex-Scientologists for the 2015 movie Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.
Filmography
Film
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Red Hot | Screenwriter, Director[21] | |
2004 | Million Dollar Baby | Screenwriter, Producer[21] | |
2004 | Crash | Story, Screenwriter, Director, Producer[21] | |
2006 | The Last Kiss | Screenwriter (adaptation)[21] | |
2006 | Flags of Our Fathers | Screenwriter[21] | |
2006 | Letters from Iwo Jima | Screenwriter, Executive Producer[21] | |
2006 | Casino Royale | Screenwriter (adaptation)[21] | |
2007 | In the Valley of Elah | Screenwriter (adaptation), Director, Producer[21] | |
2008 | Quantum of Solace | Screenwriter[21] | |
2009 | Terminator Salvation | Writer (rewrite)[21] | |
2010 | The Next Three Days | Screenwriter, Director[22] | |
2013 | Third Person | Screenwriter, Director[23] | |
2016 | Gold | Executive Producer[24] | Filming |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1987 | Return of the Shaggy Dog | Screenwriter[21] | |
1987–1988 | thirtysomething | Supervising producer, Writer, Director | |
1990 | City | Creator | |
1993–2001 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Co-creator | |
1994–1999 | Due South | Creator, Executive Producer, Screenwriter, Unit Director[21] | |
1996–1997 | EZ Streets | Creator, Executive producer | |
1997 | Walker, Texas Ranger: Sons of Thunder | Creator, Director[21] | |
1999–2002 | Family Law | Co-creator, Executive producer | |
2005 | Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire | Director[21] | |
2007 | The Black Donnellys | Creator | |
2015 | Show Me a Hero | Director, Executive producer |
Video games
Year | Game | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | Co-writer |
Awards and nominations
Haggis has been nominated for dozens of awards.[25]
Year | Award | Work | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | Humanitas Prize | CBS Storybreak: "Zucchini" | Children's Animation Category | Nominated |
1988 | Emmy Award | thirtysomething | Outstanding Drama Series | Won |
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: Business as Usual | Won | |||
Humanitas Prize | thirtysomething | 60 Minute Category | Won | |
1989 | Writers Guild of America Award | thirtysomething | Episodic Drama | Nominated |
1995 | Gemini Award | Due South | Best Dramatic Series | Won |
Due South: Pilot (#1.0) | Best TV Movie | Won | ||
Due South | Best Writing in a Dramatic Series | Won | ||
Due South: Pilot (#1.0) | Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Nominated | ||
1996 | Gemini Award | Due South | Canada's Choice Award | Won |
Due South | Best Dramatic Series | Won | ||
Due South: "Hawk and a Handsaw" | Best Writing in a Dramatic Series | Won | ||
Due South: "The Gift of the Wheelman" | Best Writing in a Dramatic Series | Won | ||
1997 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | EZ Streets | Founder's Award | Won |
2001 | Writers Guild of America Award | Contributions to industry | Valentine Davies Award | Won |
2005 | Academy Award | Million Dollar Baby | Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay | Nominated[26] |
Writers Guild of America Award | Million Dollar Baby | Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated[26] | |
American Screenwriters Association | Million Dollar Baby | Discover Screenwriting Award | Won | |
Black Movie Award | Crash | Outstanding Motion Picture | Won | |
Deauville American Film Festival | Crash | Grand Special Prize | Won | |
European Film Award | Crash | Screen International Award | Nominated | |
Hollywood Film Festival | Directing work | Breakthrough Directing | Won | |
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award | Crash | Best Screenplay | Won | |
Online Film Critics Society Award | Million Dollar Baby | Best Screenplay, Adapted | Nominated | |
San Francisco International Film Festival | Screenwriting work | Kanbar Award | Won | |
Satellite Award | Million Dollar Baby | Best Screenplay, Adapted | Won | |
Crash | Outstanding Screenplay, Original | Nominated | ||
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award | Crash | Best Screenplay, Original | Won | |
USC Scripter Award | Million Dollar Baby | USC Scripter Award | Won | |
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award | Crash | Best Screenplay – Original | Won | |
2006 | Academy Award | Crash | Best Motion Picture of the Year | Won[26] |
Best Writing, Original Screenplay | Won[26] | |||
Best Achievement in Directing | Nominated[26] | |||
Golden Globe Award | Crash | Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Nominated | |
Writers Guild of America Award | Crash | Best Original Screenplay | Won[26] | |
Directors Guild of America Award | Crash | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Nominated[26] | |
BAFTA Award | Crash | Best Screenplay – Original | Won[26] | |
David Lean Award for Direction | Nominated | |||
Austin Film Critics Award | Crash | Best Director | Won | |
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award | Crash | Best Writer | Won | |
Crash | Best Director | Nominated | ||
Chicago Film Critics Association Award | Crash | Best Screenplay | Won | |
David di Donatello | Crash | Best Foreign Film | Won | |
Edgar Award | Crash | Best Motion Picture Screenplay | Nominated | |
Humanitas Prize | Crash | Feature Film Category | Won | |
Independent Spirit Award | Crash | Best First Feature | Won | |
London Critics Circle Film Award | Crash | Screenwriter of the Year | Won | |
Crash | Director of the Year | Nominated | ||
Online Film Critics Society Award | Crash | Best Breakthrough Filmmaker | Won | |
Crash | Best Screenplay, Original | Nominated | ||
Producers Guild of America Award | Crash | Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award | Nominated | |
Robert Award | Crash | Best American Film | Nominated | |
Satellite Award | Flags of Our Fathers | Best Screenplay, Adapted | Nominated | |
2007 | Academy Award | Letters from Iwo Jima | Best Writing, Original Screenplay | Nominated[26] |
BAFTA Award | Casino Royale | Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film | Nominated[26] | |
Best Screenplay – Adapted | Nominated | |||
Saturn Award | Casino Royale | Best Writing | Nominated | |
Edgar Award | Casino Royale | Best Motion Picture Screenplay | Nominated | |
Venice Film Festival | In the Valley of Elah | SIGNIS Award | Won | |
In the Valley of Elah | Golden Lion | Nominated | ||
2008 | David di Donatello | In the Valley of Elah | Best Foreign Film | Nominated |
See also
- List of Canadian directors
- List of film and television directors
- List of film producers
- List of British and Commonwealth Academy Award winners and nominees
- List of Big Five Academy Award winners and nominees
- List of people who have won multiple Academy Awards in a single year
- List of people from Santa Monica, California
- List of people from London, Ontario
- List of former Scientologists
- Scientology controversies
Further reading
- Wells, Barry. "Paul Haggis wants to inspire London students". Alt London. www.altlondon.org.
- Forsythe, Coco (January 27, 2008). "Down In The Valley". FutureMovies. www.futuremovies.co.uk.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Turner Classic Movies staff (2009). "Biography for Paul Haggis". Turner Classic Movies. Time Warner. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
- ↑ Riggs, Thomas (2003). Contemporary Theatre Film & Television. Gale / Cengage Learning. p. 181. ISBN 0787663638.
- ↑ Clarke, Cath (January 6, 2011). "Paul Haggis: 'You have to question your beliefs'". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- 1 2 3 Wright, Lawrence (February 12, 2011). "The Apostate". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ AXS TV. "Intimate interview with Paul Haggis". YouTube. Event occurs at 2:30. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Albertson, Cammila (2009). "Paul Haggis - Biography". Allmovie. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ↑ Rumelski, Kathy (September 12, 2006). "London fans toast Haggis". Jam! Showbiz. Canoe Inc. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ↑ Salem, Rob (February 25, 2007). "Who needs Oscar? He has a mob: Nominee Paul Haggis returns to TV with new crime saga". Toronto Star. www.thestar.com. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
- ↑ Buxton, Ryan (June 16, 2014). "Paul Haggis: I Wrote 'Crash' To 'Bust Liberals'". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ↑ Whipp, Glenn (May 8, 2005). "The 'Crash' of '05 - Paul Haggis explores intolerance and isolation in modern L.A.". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ↑ Tang, Syl (February 17, 2014). "Paul Haggis Receives Millions From Bovet Watches for Haiti Help". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ↑ Dekel, Jon (September 24, 2012). "Paul Haggis' quest for Peace and Justice in Haiti". Canada.com. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ↑ "Intimate interview with Paul Haggis". Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ↑ Irish Independent staff (January 26, 2008). "The silence of Cruise's 'sinister' Cult". Irish Independent.
- ↑ Goodstein, Laurie (March 7, 2010). "Breaking With Scientology". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. p. A1.
- 1 2 3 4 Brooks, Xan (October 26, 2009). "Film-maker Paul Haggis quits Scientology over gay rights stance". The Guardian. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
- 1 2 3 Ortega, Tony (October 25, 2009). "'Crash' Director Paul Haggis Ditches Scientology". Runnin' Scared. The Village Voice. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- ↑ Moore, Matthew (October 26, 2009). "Crash director Paul Haggis quits Church of Scientology over gay marriage opposition". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
- ↑ Beaumont, Peter; Toni O'Loughlin; Paul Harris (November 22, 2009). "Celebrities lead charge against Scientology: Hollywood figures quit 'rip-off' church as Australian prime minister threatens parliamentary inquiry into its activities". The Observer. The Guardian. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
- ↑ Ryan, Mike (November 15, 2010). "Paul Haggis on The Next Three Days, Scientology and Why He's OK With You Hating Crash". Movieline. Movieline LLC. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Turner Classic Movies staff (2009). "Filmography for Paul Haggis". Turner Classic Movies. Time Warner. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ↑ Bodey, Michael (March 24, 2010). "Indian extravaganza a juicy win for rival capitals of film". The Australian. www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
- ↑ "The Third Person". IMDB. www.imdb.com. October 17, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ↑ McNary, Dave (January 28, 2015). "Berlin: Matthew McConaughey's 'Gold' Starts Shooting in June". variety.com. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ↑ Internet Movie Database staff (2009). "Awards for Paul Haggis". Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Allmovie staff (2009). "Paul Haggis - Awards". Allmovie. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
External links
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- Paul Haggis at AllMovie
- Paul Haggis at the Internet Movie Database
- Paul Haggis at the TCM Movie Database
- Works by or about Paul Haggis in libraries (WorldCat catalog)